The term "mosaic" actually refers the process of using lots of small tiles together to create greater designs and surfaces. While mosaic is certainly a time consuming and meticulous process, the almost unlimited materials to choose from and the boundless design possibilities of the art make it one of the most versatile, popular, and stunning tiling options available to any homeowner. From backsplashes to poolside tile murals, to tabletops and mirrors, mosaic tile is tough stuff to beat.

Pick Your Poison When we say mosaic tile comes in just about any material you can imagine, we mean it. It is available in stainless steel, copper, ceramic, porcelain, stone, pebble, cork, and glass mosaic tile, among others. Keep in mind that this is just the starter list, and there are a lot of other options within each category. If there's a material out there you're after, chances are there's a tile manufactured to fit the bill.

All the Colors in the Rainbow Add to that list of materials the fact that porcelain, ceramic, and glass mosaic tile come in pretty much any color you can think of, along with a few more, and you can see there's an almost limitless range of looks to choose from. In fact, because of their small size and intricate finish and color variations, even steel, stone, pebble and cork come in an endless number of variations.

Why Am I Supposed to Be Excited about All This? Simple. Because the fun of mosaic tile is combining all these different colors, materials, shades, textures and finishes to create a stunning greater whole. Interspersing glass mosaic tile in with a ceramic background will light up your pool area. Alternating polished stainless steel with buffed copper behind your kitchen sink will turn heads. And combining multiple colors into a single tiling project can transform a wall, floor, shower or bath from a boring, monotone into a cornucopia of color and festive feeling! Mosaic has the potential to move beyond great looking tile, and to become a work of art in the right hands. The limits to your imagination are the only things standing in your way.

Talk to a Pro Because mosaic tile has such incredible potential, this is one tiling project you at least want to consult with a professional about before things get rolling. They will be able to open your mind to the wealth of possibilities available to you. And, as always, don't shy away from hiring an expert to do the work for you. When it comes to mosaic design, you're not just hiring a craftsman, you're hiring an artist as well. Committing to someone who is practiced and comfortable getting the most out of mosaic design is a sure way to get a finished product that takes your breath away!

If you decide to go this route, however, be sure to hire a contractor experienced in this type of tile setting, and ask to see some examples of previous work. Remember, you want to get the most out of your mosaic tile. Hiring someone who knows what they're doing is key to making that happen.

1. Use water-based latex.
Most paint dealers out there are only selling water-based paints these days.
As Oil-based paints contain volatile chemicals, there is a limit on the amount in which they can be used. Oil-based paints are best used for doors, cabinets, kitches, and anywhere where a rich gloss look is desired.
2. Use low-sheen paints for walls and ceilings.
Use flat paint or low-sheen paints for walls and ceilings. This is recommended because it is more attractive than shinier enamels.
Enamels include eggshell, semi-gloss and gloss paints. The higher the sheen rating, the higher the shine. These are used to paint cabinets, doors, trim and bathrooms. They are also...

The term "mosaic" actually refers the process of using lots of small tiles together to create greater designs and surfaces. While mosaic is certainly a time consuming and meticulous process, the almost unlimited materials to choose from and the boundless design possibilities of the art make it one of the most versatile, popular, and stunning tiling options available to any homeowner. From backsplashes to poolside tile murals, to tabletops and mirrors, mosaic tile is tough stuff to beat.
Pick Your Poison When we say mosaic tile comes in just about any material you can imagine, we mean it. It is available in stainless steel, copper, ceramic, porcelain, stone, pebble, cork, and glass mosaic...

One of the most treasured items for many homeowners is a quality home entertainment center. Like bathroom and kitchen remodels, it's easy to understand how a home entertainment center directly improves your home lifestyle. Of course, no home entertainment center would be complete without a superb sound system. Often, the way in which you decide to mount your speakers can be just as important to your home entertainment room as the quality of the speakers themselves. Technological advancements allow you to make your home near theater quality without overpowering your room.
Speaker Wall Mounts
Speaker wall mounts are a simple way to reclaim valuable floor space in your home. They don't req...

Most paint dealers out there are only selling water-based paints these days.

As Oil-based paints contain volatile chemicals, there is a limit on the amount in which they can be used. Oil-based paints are best used for doors, cabinets, kitches, and anywhere where a rich gloss look is desired.

2. Use low-sheen paints for walls and ceilings.

Use flat paint or low-sheen paints for walls and ceilings. This is recommended because it is more attractive than shinier enamels.

Enamels include eggshell, semi-gloss and gloss paints. The higher the sheen rating, the higher the shine. These are used to paint cabinets, doors, trim and bathrooms. They are also easily cleaned and lay down a nice subtle shine, without being too slippery looking.

3. Buy your paints

The starting rule is that for most paints, 1 gallon of paint will cover about 300 to 400 square feet.

To calculate approximately the amount of paint needed for the walls of a room, add together the length of all the walls and then multiply the number by the height of the room. The number you get is the room's square footage.

Subtract the areas of doors (20 square feet per door) and windows (15 square feet per window) from the room total. You will get the size of your paintable surface area.

It's best to double that and apply two coats on all surfaces to ensure good coverage and maximum durability.

4. Buy your tools

Choosing a high-quality brush in the right size and shape can save you a lot of time later.

Get a good all-in-one roller setup which would typically consist of a roller frame, a roller cover (lamb’s wool), and a rolling pole.

Don't forget your buckets.

5. Pre-painting preparation

This is important because a good preparation will make your paint job smoother and more efficient.

Make sure you remove everything from your walls.

Next, move all your furniture away from the walls and cover them with disposable plastic drop cloths. Cover all your floors with such plastic sheeting as well.

Then, fill paint cracks with a paintable latex caulk or spackle. Once you are done filling the cracks, sandpaper it. Make sure that the feel is good, as paint will not help camouflage spackle imperections!

Remove any dirt or grease with a degreaser or Tri Sodium Phosphate and rinse. This will make the painting easier.

Lastly, use a primer. This is a powerful tool used by all pro painters. It goes underneath the paint, sticks to whatever you are preparing and turns it into a smooth, uniform surface that's ready for paint.

If your walls have stains or odors, use a stain-blocking primer.

6. Start Painting

Since rollers can’t get tight to edges, the first painting step is to brush along the ceiling, inside corners and moldings.

Dunk your roller into the bucket. Roll only three feet at a time to spread the paint evenly over the wall, using the roller to get as close to the corners as possible.

Make sure the paint is completely dry before applying the second coat.

Brighten Up...

The term "mosaic" actually refers the process of using lots of small tiles together to create greater designs and surfaces. While mosaic is certainly a time consuming and meticulous process, the almost unlimited materials to choose from and the boundless design possibilities of the art make it one of the most versatile, popular, and stunning tiling options available to any homeowner. From backsplashes to poolside tile murals, to tabletops and mirrors, mosaic tile is tough stuff to beat.

Pick Your Poison When we say mosaic tile comes in just about any material you can imagine, we mean it. It is available in stainless steel, copper, ceramic, porcelain, stone, pebble, cork, and glass mosaic tile, among others. Keep in mind that this is just the starter list, and there are a lot of other options within each category. If there's a material out there you're after, chances are there's a tile manufactured to fit the bill.

All the Colors in the Rainbow Add to that list of materials the fact that porcelain, ceramic, and glass mosaic tile come in pretty much any color you can think of, along with a few more, and you can see there's an almost limitless range of looks to choose from. In fact, because of their small size and intricate finish and color variations, even steel, stone, pebble and cork come in an endless number of variations.

Why Am I Supposed to Be Excited about All This? Simple. Because the fun of mosaic tile is combining all these different colors, materials, shades, textures and finishes to create a stunning greater whole. Interspersing glass mosaic tile in with a ceramic background will light up your pool area. Alternating polished stainless steel with buffed copper behind your kitchen sink will turn heads. And combining multiple colors into a single tiling project can transform a wall, floor, shower or bath from a boring, monotone into a cornucopia of color and festive feeling! Mosaic has the potential to move beyond great looking tile, and to become a work of art in the right hands. The limits to your imagination are the only things standing in your way.

Talk to a Pro Because mosaic tile has such incredible potential, this is one tiling project you at least want to consult with a professional about before things get rolling. They will be able to open your mind to the wealth of possibilities available to you. And, as always, don't shy away from hiring an expert to do the work for you. When it comes to mosaic design, you're not just hiring a craftsman, you're hiring an artist as well. Committing to someone who is practiced and comfortable getting the most out of mosaic design is a sure way to get a finished product that takes your breath away!

If you decide to go this route, however, be sure to hire a contractor experienced in this type of tile setting, and ask to see some examples of previous work. Remember, you want to get the most out of your mosaic tile. Hiring someone who knows what they're doing is key to making that happen.

Installing ...

One of the most treasured items for many homeowners is a quality home entertainment center. Like bathroom and kitchen remodels, it's easy to understand how a home entertainment center directly improves your home lifestyle. Of course, no home entertainment center would be complete without a superb sound system. Often, the way in which you decide to mount your speakers can be just as important to your home entertainment room as the quality of the speakers themselves. Technological advancements allow you to make your home near theater quality without overpowering your room.

Speaker Wall Mounts

Speaker wall mounts are a simple way to reclaim valuable floor space in your home. They don't require the same technical skill for installation, but if you're thinking of taking the project on you'll still need some basic skills and knowledge. Many manufacturers provide installation manuals for their products, but getting outside your comfort zone, can be an enormous headache waiting to happen. Wall-mounted speakers tend to be smaller in size, but they still pack all the punch you need. The ability to angle the speakers in any direction also gives homeowners the ability to install the speakers anywhere on their walls without sacrificing sound quality.

In-Ceiling and In-Wall Speaker Mounts

Everybody wants a high-performance home entertainment system, but almost nobody wants a bunch of bulky, electrical equipment clogging up their rooms and décor. In-ceiling and in-wall speaker mounts basically use ceiling and wall cavities as speaker cabinets. They use the same technology as traditional speakers. The difference is in the installation. The most important decision to make when installing these speakers is where you want to put them, and this decision is usually a function of their intended use. In-wall speakers, for example, are typically best for home entertainment centers where the sound is designed to come from one source. If you like to listen to music while you're cleaning your kitchen, on the other hand, a discreet in-ceiling speaker may be just the ticket.

Hidden Speaker Mounts

In-wall speakers can be artfully camouflaged to match your home décor and blend in with its surroundings. Still, for truly stunning sound systems that won't infringe on your room's look and will wow your guests, hidden speakers placed inside your walls is the way to go.

Powerful transducers can transmit high-quality sound through any solid material, turning your wall into the speaker itself. When you go to the movie theater, you probably notice you don't see speakers transmitting sound; it's the same technology. Knocking a hole in the wall to install the sound system isn't that complicated, and now that the technology's out there, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg more than in-wall speakers. Many homeowners simply don't install hidden speakers because they don't want to pay more for what they consider a superfluous luxury. On the other hand, if the idea is appealing, you don't need to mortgage the house to install hidden speakers.